C. 6 (University Library, Cambridge University)
E. G. Browne Collection
Contents
Summary of Contents: كشف الغمة في معرفة الأئمة Kashful-Ghumma fi ma'rifati'l-A'imma ("the Dispelling of Doubt, on the knowledge of the Imáms"), by Ali ibn sá al-Irbili, who, according to the Rawdatu'l-Jannát (p. 369 of the Tihrán lithograph), was one of the leading Shi'a divines of the seventh Muḥammadan (thirteenth Christian) century. Although this book is highly esteemed and much quoted by the Shi'a, copies appear to be rare in Europe, for none is mentioned by Ahlwardt, Brockelmann, or Rieu. The date of composition is given at the end (f. 439'), but owing to the mutilation of the last six leaves (ff. 435-40) only the words "... ty and six hundred" (...) are legible, with the day of the month, Ramadán 20. The MS., bought in the spring of 1920 at the Belshah sale, is unfortunately defective at the beginning, but gives the title of the book on f. 3b, l. 11. It was transcribed by Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn Hasan as-Sinjárí, and completed in Rabi' 1, 913 (July-August, 1507). It comprises 440 ff of 30 x 22 c. and 23 I., and is written in a large, clear naskh, the headings in larger and heavier characters, and there are numerous marginal notes and glosses. It is divided into two parts (Jus), of which the first, ending on f. 160b, is entirely concerned with the Prophet and 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, with some subsidiary matter, such as a section on the excellence and nobility of the Banú Háshim (ff. 12a-14b), and another on the limitation of the Imámate to their family and of the number of the Imáms to twelve (ff. 21b-23b). The second part (ff. 161b-439b) begins with accounts of Fátima (ff. 166a et seqq.) and Khadija (f. 183a et segg.), and then treats systematically of the remaining eleven Imáms as follows: Al-Hasan, f. 186a; al-Husayn, f. 217a; Alí Zaynu'l-'Abidin, f. 248a; Muḥammad Baqir, f. 264a; Ja'far aş-Şádiq, f. 279b; Músá al-Kázim, f. 303b; Alí ar-Ridá, f. 323a; Muhammad Taqi, f. 351a; 'Ali an-Naqi, f. 363b; Hasan al- 'Askari, f. 375; the Imám Mahdi, f. 390a. Amongst the numerous authorities quoted are the following the Kitábu'l- Firdaws of Shirawayhi of Daylam (d. 509/1115: see Brockelmann, 1, 344): Kitabu'l-Yawágit; the Manaqib of al-Khwarizmi; the Kifayatu't-Talib ft Manaqibi 'Ali ibn Abi Tálib; the Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal (d. 241/855: see Brockel- mann, 1, 181-3); the Sunan of Abú Dáwud Sulaymán ibnu'l-Ash'ath; the Kaskshaf of az-Zamakhshari (d. 538/1143: Brockelmann, 1, 289-90); the Manáqib of Shaykh Kamálu'd-Din ibn Talha; the Kitábu'l-Fatah; the Hilyatul Awliyd of al-Hafiz Abú Nu'aym (d. 430/1038: see Brockelmann, 1, 362), and the abridgement of it by Jamalu'd-Din Abul-Faraj ibnu'l-Jawzi (d. 597/1200) known as Sifatu (here Safwatu)'s-Safwa (Brockelmann, 1, 362 and 503): the Kitabu'l-Irshad by ash- Shaykhul-Mufid (d. 413/1022; see Brockelmann, 1, 188); the Kitábu d-Daldil by al-Himyari; the Kitabu'l-Kharáj of Qutbu'd-Din ar-Rawandi; and the Tadkkira of Ibn Hamdún (d. 562/1167: see Brockelmann, 1, 280-1).
Physical Description
Form: codex
Support: Paper
Extent: Ff. 440
Dimensions: 30 × 22 cm.
Layout
23 lines
Hand(s)
Written in a large, clear naskh, the headings in larger and heavier characters.
History
Origin: undated
Provenance and Acquisition
The MS., bought in the spring of 1920 at the Belshah sale.
Bequest of E. G. Browne.
Record Sources
Summary, physical description and provenance copied from R. A. Nicholson: A descriptive catalogue of the Oriental MSS belonging to the late E.G. Browne. Cambridge, 1932.
Availability
Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card for admissions procedures contact Cambridge University Library Admissions). Contact near_eastern@lib.cam.ac.uk for further information on the availability of this manuscript
Funding of Cataloguing
JISC
Please fill out your details.